Yarn changer for multi-feed circular knitting machines

ABSTRACT

A yarn changer for use upon a multi-feed circular knitting machine to present yarns to the needles of the machine at each of two adjoining feeds thereof, the yarn changer having a set of pivotally mounted yarn guides and a related indexable yarn guide control drum for each of the feeds; the sets of yarn guides being disposed on opposite sides of a central base support and pivotally supported on a first common shaft supported by, and extending outwardly, from both sides of the base, and the yarn guide control drums being disposed on opposite sides of the base and rotatably supported on a second common shaft, supported by, and extending outwardly from, both sides of the base.

I United States Patent 1 3,788,104

Billi Jan. 29, 1974 [54] YARN CHANGER FOR MULTI-FEED 3,163,027 12/1964 Azzolari 66/ 138 CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [75] Invent r: i rgi Billi, Fierenze, Italy 18,135 1/1929 Australia 66/138 Assigneet G. & C. Bil J Firenza, Italy 266,796 2/1927 Great BrItaIn 66/138 Filedi J 1971 Primary ExaminerRobert R. Mackey NO: Attorney, Agent, or Firm-L0uis NeChO [30] F A li ti Pr t D ta [57] ABSTRACT orelgn pp ca on y a A yarn changer for use upon a multi-feed circular Apr. 10, machine to present yams to the needles of the machine at each of two adjoining feeds thereof, the [52] US. Cl. 66/138 yam changer having a Set of pivotally mounted yam [51] Int. Cl D04b 15/58 guides and a related lndexable yarn guIde control [58] new of Search 2 2 3 3 36 53i drum for each of the feeds; the sets of yarn guides 6 l 1 l 1 being disposed on opposite sides of a central base support and pivotally supported on a first common shaft [56] References Cited supported by, and extending outwardly, from both UNITED STATES PATENTS sides of the base, and the yarn guide control drums 3,389,581 6/1968 Sterner 66/133 being disposed on opposite sides of the base and rotat- 3, 0,1 5 11/ 1968' Boye t a1 66/154 R ably supported on a second common shaft, supported 3,555,855 1/1971 B1111 66/138 b d extending outwardly from, both sides of the 3,557,578 1/1971 Fetzer 66/140 5 base v 509,243 11/1893 Parr 66/140 R 670,392 3/1901 Ames 66/140 R X 1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAK 2 m ables; 104

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SHEH M (if Q 67 Fig. 5 75 Fig.6 I 97 INVENTOR GIORGIO BILU ATTORNEY YARN CHANGER FOR MULTI-FEED CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES The present invention relates generally to the art of knitting and more particularly to yarn changers to be used on multi-feed circular knitting machines, the yarn changers of the present invention being particularly useful on multi-feed circular hosiery machines.

It is desirable that a yarn changer be used at each feed of circular hosiery knitting'machines, and with the present use of a relatively large number of feeds on such machines, the disposition of a correspondingly large number of conventional yarn changers thereon, presents a problem in space, due to the relatively small diameter of the needle cylinder of the machines.

Accordingly, it is the principle object of the present invention to provide a simple yarn changer for use upon multifeed circular knitting machines to present yarns to the needles of the machines at each of two adjoining feeds thereof.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a yarn changer of the character described, wherein the yarn guides and the related yarn guide control drum for each of the feeds, are mounted upon opposite sides of a single central base member.

The above, and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully apparent hereinafter, it being understood that the present invention is primarily concerned with a two feed yarn changer, all as will be described in detail hereinafter, as shown in the drawings, and as set forth in the appended claims.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a 12 feed circular hosiery knitting machine having six of the two-feed yarn changers of the present invention disposed thereon, with the yarn changers equally angularly spaced about the needle circle of the machine, and with each yarn changer in position to present yarns to the needles at each of two adjoining feeds of the machine.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view, partly in section, of the two-feed yarn changer of the present invention, as taken along the line II II of FIGS. 1 and 3.

FIG. 3 is a plan view, partly in section, of the twofeed yarn changer as taken along the lines III III of FIGS. 2 and 4.

FIG. 4 is a view generally similar to FIG. 2 as taken along the line IV IV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of one modification of the invention wherein the two-yarn guide control drums are independently indexed as taken along the line V V of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing a second modification of the invention wherein the two-yarn guide control drums of the invention are commonly indexed.

While the two-feed yarn changers of the present invention may be used on circular knitting machines generally, they are particularly useful on modern circular hosiery knitting machines having a relatively large number of feeds which are disposed about a needle cylinder of relatively small diameter and wherein the amount of space between feeds is relatively small.

A generally annular supporting ring 1 is concentrically disposed about the hook ends of a circle of latch needles 3 of a circular hosiery knitting machine. The

needles are conventionally disposed in the slots of a conventional needle cylinder (not shown). The present ring 1 is similar to the ring indicated by the character 3 in US. Pat. No. 3,296,836 issued to Giorgio Billi. Six of the two-feed yarn changers of the present invention are shown in FIG. 1 to supply yarns to the needles 3 at each of the twelve feeds of the machine. one adjacent pair of the feeds being shown at A and B. The yarn changers are equally spaced and are radially disposed on the ring 1, with one yarn changer presenting yarns at each of the feeds A and B. A description of one of the two-feed yarn changers will suffice as a description of each of the six yarn changers shown in FIG. 1.

As appears in FIG. 3, a line extending radially of the needle circle midway between the pair of feeds A and B is indicated at 4. The line 4 is also the centerline of the yarn changer. A fixed supporting bracket 5 is secured to the underside of ring 1 by means of one or more suitable bolts 58 extending through bracket 5 into threaded engagement with the ring 1. The bracket 5 is midway between feeds A and B, and is provided at one side thereof with an outward apertured extension 5A which is generally parallel to the line 4. A horizontal shaft 7 is disposed within, and is fixed to, the bracket extension 5A so as to extend unequally from the opposite sides of the bracket, with the axis of shaft 7 at right angles to a vertical plane extending through the line 4.

A rocking supporting bracket, generally indicated at 9, is provided with an apertured sleeve portion 11, rotatably journalled on the shaft 7 so that the bracket 9, and the parts supported thereon, may be pivotally moved about the shaft 7. A radially positioned rib portion 13 extends upwardly from the sleeve 11 of bracket 9 and provides support for an upper apertured sleeve 15. The rib 13 is provided with a parallel sided block 17 extending toward the needle circle 3, the block 17 having an extension 19 thereof closer to the needle circle and, upon the end of which is secured a throat plate 21 for feed B and a throat plate 23 for feed A. The throat plates 21 and 23 direct yarn to the needles from any of the active yarn guides andat the same time are shaped to control the position of the needle latches to avoid damage thereof by the active yarn guides. A second rib 25 extends rearwardly from the sleeve 11 and at its end is provided with laterally extending projection 25A which forms a support for the ends of the control cables of the yarn changer, to be described.

The rocking bracket 9 is retained against axial movement along the shaft 7, FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, by means of a centrally apertured and shouldered stud 29 secured to the end of the shaft 7, projecting through sleeve 1 l, by a screw 29A passing through stud 29 into threaded engagement with the shaft 7. A similar stud 27 is secured to the end of shaft 7 extending through sleeve 5A by a screw 27A passing through the stud 27 into threaded engagement with the shaft 7. A pair of rocking levers 31 and 33 are apertured at an end thereof, to be rotatably journalled upon, and to be retained in position upon, the shouldered portions of the studs 27 and 29. The lever 31 is on stud 27 between its shoulder and the outer face of sleeve 5A, while the lever 33 is on stud 29 between its shoulder and the outer face of sleeve 11. Each of the levers 31, 33, are provided at their free ends with laterally extending small rollers 35 and 37, respectively. The arm of lever 31 is apertured at 39A, FIG. 6, to loosely receive therein an angularly movable disc or plug 39, in which the end of a flexible cable 43 is anchored. The arm 33 is similarly provided with a disc in which the end of a flexible cable 45 is anchored. The lever 33 is provided with a slot 41, FIG. 5, through which the cable 45 may extend to its anchoring disc, the slot being open to the outer side face. of the lever to permit lateral insertion of the cable 45 and its anchoring disc into the lever 33. The lever 31 is similarly provided with a slot to permit lateral insertion therein of cable 43 and anchoring disc 39. The cable 43 serves to turn lever 31 against the pull of a tension spring 47, FIG. 4, suitably anchored to the lever 31 and to a pin 48 in the side of block 17. The cable 45 serves to turn lever 33 against the pull of a similar tension spring, similarly anchored to the lever 33 and to the block 17. The circular base portions of levers 31 and 33 are grooved t slidingly receive therein tensioned coil springs 32 and 34, respectively. The springs 32 and 34 each have one end thereof anchored on a pin 32A, extending through sleeve 11, FIG. 5, while their other ends are anchored upon pins 34A, FIG. 3, extending from the fixed bracket 5. The springs 32,34, serve to urge the rocking bracket 9, and the parts thereon, in counterclockwise direction, FIG. 4. The flexible control cables 43, 45, FIG. 3, slide within covers 43A, 45A, of which the ends 43B, 45B, are anchored in members 49, 51 which, in turn, are suitably secured to the opposite ends of a screw 53 extending through and threadedly engaged in the extension 25A of the bracket 9.

A horizontal shaft 53, FIGS. 2 and 5, extends through a suitable aperture in sleeve to extend outwardly from the opposite ends thereof, the shaft 53 being fixed to the sleeve 15 by means of a screw 55 in threaded engagement with the sleeve, and extending into an aperture in the shaft 53. Yarn guide control drums 57 and 59 are independently rotatably supported upon the extensions of the fixed shaft 53. These drums are provided with hollow cylinders 57A and 59A which are axially slotted to receive jacks therein, the jacks each being provided with butts 57A and 598 which may be placed at desired locations to selectively actuate the yarn guides, as will be set forth, there being a circular series of butts for each of the yarn guides.

Each of the. drums 57 and 59 are independently indexable by individual ratchet and pawl means of which ratchets 61 and 63 are suitably affixed to the outer sides of the drums 57, 59; and pawls 65 and 67 are pivotally secured, at 69 and 71, to the upper ends ofa pair of rocking levers 75 and 77. The levers 75, 77, are suitably apertured to be rotatably supported upon shoulders in the outer sides of the drums 57, 59, the levers 75, 77, being retained in position between the ratchets 61, 63, and the drums 57, 59. Springs, such as 73 affixed to the upper end of lever 75, FIG. 4, urge the pawls 65, 67, into contact witl the teeth of ratchets 61, 63. The lower ends of levers 75, 77, are bifurcated, as at 75A, 77A, FIGS. 4 and 5, to receive therein the rollers 35, 37, of the levers 31, 33. Accordingly, for each rocking movement of the levers 31, 33, as provided by the activation of cables 43, 45, there is a corresponding rocking movement of levers 75, 77, thereby to index the drums 57, 59. It will be understood that the cables 43, 45, may be independently actuated, under control of the main pattern drum of the machine, to independently index the drums 57, 59, as desired. Friction brake rings 79 and 81 encircle drums 57, 59, to prevent overthrow thereof, the rings being anchored against rotation by a common pin 83 extending through rib 13 of bracket 9 into suitable apertures in the rings 79, 81.

A horizontal pin shaft 85 extends transversely through a suitable aperture in the block 17 of bracket 9 to extend outwardly from the opposite lateral sides thereof. A plurality of yarn guides 87, to present yarns at feed A, are individually rotatably supported upon one of the extensions of shaft 85, while a second plurality of yarn guides 89, to present yarns at feed B, are individually rotatably supported upon the other of the extensions of shaft 85. Each of the yarn guides, of which the guide 87 in FIG. 2 is representative, is provided at its feeding, or forward end, with a tube 87A through which yarn F is fed, and is provided at its rear end with spaced extensions 87B and 87C. The extension 87B is adapted to be engaged by the butts of one circle of butts 57B of control drum 57 to move the guide 87 out of yarn feeding position. It will be understood that the several fingers 87 are operated by the several circles of butts 57B, and that the several fingers 89 are operated by the several circles of butts 59B. The extensions 87C of the guides 87 (and the similar extensions of the guides 89), are disposed so as to individually abut against the shouldered ends of individual adjusting screws 91 which are threadedly engaged in, and project through, lateral extension 93 formed on both sides of rib 13 of bracket 9, FIGS. 2 and 5. Adjustment of each screw 91 against extension 87C of each yarn guide will provide individual adjustment of the guides in their active feeding positions, at which time theextensions 87B are not riding upon a butt 57B of the control drum 57. The guides 87 (as well as the guides 89), are yieldingly held in yarn feeding position by individual tension springs 93A, suitably anchored to a projection 87D of the guides and to the pin 48 in the block 17 of bracket 9. From the lowered active yarn feeding position of each of the yarn guides (as determined by the position of the adjusting screws 91), at the feeds A and B, the guides may be selectively raised out of feeding position by pivotal movement about the shaft 85 as the result of the action of suitably placed butts 57B, 59B, on the drums 57, 59, on their extensions 878 when the control drums are indexed. It will be understood that as selected ones of the guides are moved out of action at feeds A and B, other selected guides may, if desired, be moved into action. Accordingly, the selective positioning of the guides 87, 89, into and out of yarn feeding positions at the feeds A and B, is controlled by the individual indexing of the drums 57, 59, under control of the butts 57B, 59B, on the drums.

In the second modification of FIG. 6, the two control drums 57, 59, are commonly indexed by the action of a single flexible cable 45. In this arrangement, a shaft 53A (in place of shaft 53 of FIG. 5), is rotatably supported in the sleeve 15, (the screw 55 being removed), and the control drums 57, 59, are fixed thereto by means of pins 97, 99, extending through portions of the drums and through the shaft. The indexing means previously described for use upon the drum 59 is retained, while the corresponding means on the drum 57 is removed. Accordingly, when the drum 59 is indexed by a pull on the cable 45, it will turn the shaft 53A which, being fast to the two drums, will also cause the drum 57 to be similarly indexed at the same time.

The apparatus of the aforementioned US. Pat. No. 3,296,836 of G. Billi may also be incorporated in the present circular hosiery knitting machine, so that each of the yarn changers may be moved to a position in which all of their yarn guides are raised out of yarnfeeding position at the feeds of the machine. To this end, the machine is provided with a ring 98 slidingly supported in a suitable groove formed in the underside of ring 1, and with a series of pins 99 which slidingly extend vertically through suitable circumferentially spaced apertures in ring 1, (similar to the ring 8 and pins 12 of the said patent). The pins 99 are located under the blocks 17 of each bracket 9, so that the latter are rocked upwardly about shaft 7 when ring 98 is given a relatively short angular movement, so that its cam surfaces (similar to 8A of the said patent), act upon and raise the pins 99 which, in turn, raise the yarn changers out of action, as fully explained in the said patent. I

What I claim is:

1. A yarn changer for multi-feed circular knitting machines having a plurality of feed stations and a set of yarn guides for each feed station, said yarn changer comprising a support fixed between adjacent feed stations, a control drum for each said set of yarn guides, means mounting the respective sets of yarn guides and control drums for adjacent feed stations on said support fixed between said adjacent feed stations for movement relative to said support, and said mounting means including means capable of actuating said drums independently of each other or jointly with each other. l 

1. A yarn changer for multi-feed circular knitting machines having a plurality of feed stations and a set of yarn guides for each feed station, said yarn changer comprising a support fixed between adjacent feed stations, a control drum for each said set of yarn guides, means mounting the respective sets of yarn guides and control drums for adjacent feed stations on said support fixed between said adjacent feed stations for movement relative to said support, and said mounting means including means capable of actuating said drums independently of each other or jointly with each other. 